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South School, 1962: The last segregated school in New York. The student body is all-Negro . . . except for first grader Josh Friedman. Center stage in the unflinching and frequently hilarious funhouse tour of Friedman's Long Island boyhood. At once heartbreaking and hysterically funny, BLACK CRACKER delivers a fearless account of adventures in the now-forgotten poor Black shantytowns of Long Island, exploring the singular ugliness of racism, the intrigue of janitorial whodunits, the tragic limits of friendship.

Nellie Hatt and her sons Ned, left, and Carl on farm at Baileyville, Me., where all were born. If crops are bad, Ned said, “We make do, then. We don’t ask nobody’s help.”

The above caption and photo ran on page 37 of The New York Times, July 2, 1974. It has haunted me ever since. It was taken by Arthur Grace, for a story called “Maine Farmers See Aid in Beef,” by Alden Whitman. The dateline was a town called “Meddybemps,
Maine.”

My father, Bruce Jay Friedman, was saddened by the news that Philip Roth is gone.He found it disturbing, unexpected, and doesn’t think there is anyone around who will fill his shoes. Roth gave his entire life to what he did.

The BJF vs. Roth trope was a slightly annoying subject in my family. Or at least, I’ll speak for myself. It was grating to hear Roth’s name come up, automatically, when someone praised my father. What does Roth have to do with it? They have nothing to do with each other. Why must I hear that echo? A petty annoyance, probably not worth mentioning.

Forty years later, I detect an embarrassing undertone of boyhood crush in this Soho News fluff interview I did with Laraine Newman. I brought a handful of Famous Monsters mags for her to pose with. They ran the cover line “Dracula Turns Me On.”

There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.

The greatest legacy of Naked City is its location footage. This police procedural, which ran between 1958-1963, is chock-full of New York’s real streets. Breakfast at Tiffany’s/West Side Story-era New York. The year 1962 takes my breath away–because it hovers innocently in the middle of the American century, suspended from the ‘50s, just a hop, skip and gun blast away from the assassination and the Beatles.

Naked City was nearly the only location show shot in New York. We visit the fabled St. Nicholas Arena fights on 66th Street. It would be closed in a year. We take in the vista from the elevated subway at 161st Street looking out on Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds. We enter the old, cigar-hazed Madison Square Garden at 50th Street, and cross the Bowery where Lower East Side kids run amok and play stickball. Children play alone on sidewalks and playgrounds.

By the end of Ringo’s “All-Starr” concert at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, two adorable 13-year-old girls in braces, accompanied by one’s mom, staked out front stage for souvenirs. When the meat rack of security guards turned awry, the best she could grab was Gary Brooker’s sweat rag. Sensually inhaling of its fragrance, she neatly folded the white-haired musician’s rag.
“What do you plan to do with it?” I inquired.
“Keep it by my bed,” she purred. Once there were millions of such girls—who’d get up and dance before her mother was born—that would faint over the sweaty droppings of anything Ringo. How nice to see at least two were still interested, by association of Gary Brooker.

Podcast Reviews

Josh Kept The Tapes!

November 15, 2018 by CTSAKIS from United States

I’ve been a Josh Alan Friedman fan for many years. The man is a great writer and incredible musician, blessed with a keen eye able to dissect the most harrowing situation and extract the humor. I am so glad HE KEPT THE TAPES and that he followed “Tales of Times Square” with tales of his dead heroes. PLEASE DO MORE.

Season 2

September 21, 2018 by Michael Zagst from United States

Season 2 opens with a bang, shot right out of a cannon. I look forward to the next episodes.

An amazing treasure trove of pop culture history

September 20, 2018 by Bob Deis from United States

Josh Alan Friedman is an exceptionally insightful story teller, writer, interviewer and pop culture historian (on top of being a great musician). His TALES OF... series features excerpts from interview tapes he used for articles and books he's written, illuminated with newly-recorded commentary. It's an amazing treasure trove of American pop culture history. The list of fascinating people Josh has known, interviewed and written about is awe-inspiring. Listening to his conversations with and stories about them is mind-blowing. I highly recommend this podcast -- and Josh's book and albums.

Pre-Giuliani Times Square

February 10, 2018 by Rico_de_Pico from United States

I read the book first and loved it. Fantastic to hear the voices of old TS denizens.

Great Addition To The Book

December 8, 2017 by Beefdrippings from Canada

I loved the book back in the day and was very intrigued when I found this podcast. It does not disappoint. It's so great to actually hear these characters,legends from the book. I’m really enjoying this podcast. The way Josh presents each episode is great. Keep em coming!

Great

November 24, 2017 by ThisDJSucks from United States

The Uncle Lou story moved me to tears. Audio quality of the old recordings aside, this is essential alt history and a great companion to the wonderful Tales of Times Square book

Amazing Timecapsule Of A Lost Era of New York

November 17, 2017 by Cthulhugus from United States

This podcast offers something difference from the average podcast. It allows listeners to take a trip back to New York City that no longer exists. I went to NYC in 1996 when I was in 8th grade and I barely caught the tail end of this NYC. I remember sex workers hanging out in Times Square and the the porn theaters on 42nd Street. To be able to listen to tales from NYC during this era by the people who lived the stories, taken by Josh during the 1980's, is a rare opportunity for me to revisit the NYC of my youth. Great podcast, subscribe today!

Great Times Square / New York History Blog

October 12, 2017 by Jiggs McDonald from United States

Fantastic Blog!

One of the best writers from NYC

September 20, 2017 by Sammy Grubman from United States

Not only did I enjoy every page of this book, but I also accompanied Josh on some of his Times Square adventures back in the day. I recommend this book to everyone interested in the real, ungentrified NYC.
Herbery Asbury recorded an older era for posterity with his "Gangs of New York". Josh does the same for recent history which should not be forgotten......a NYC free of iPhone-toting morons, self-entitled swinish millenials and the other hordes of disgusting dorks who should be sent back to the suburban strip malls where they belong.

My favorite book has a podcast!

September 16, 2017 by Shore Patrol from United States

I could listen to this all day - denizens of old New York: their interviews with Josh's commentary and insight. Can't wait to hear what's coming up!

Brilliant, Not To Put Too Fine a Point on the Matter...

September 15, 2017 by Michael H. Price from United States

The book ("Tales of Times Square") is a perennial, blooming from the bookcase and often read in this household. Social Anthropology in its truest form. How very rewarding to hear those voices in Real Time... The podcast dovetails ideally with the written word. Beautiful.

Hurry...Bring on Episode 2.

September 14, 2017 by Onelisab from United States

Great True Stories documented and narrated by a Great story teller, Josh Alan. I loved reading Josh Alan's autobiographical novel "Black Cracker ". So, it is no surprise to me how much I enjoyed this 1st Episode of "Tales of Times Square". BTW, the intro music is Josh, himself, singing and strumming his guitar.

Take a walk around old Times Square

September 14, 2017 by Boobuhkarr from United States

A fascinating collection of stories from a time and place that no longer exists. Josh Alan Friedman takes you on a gritty journey to meet the kind of folks that you definitely don't want to bring home to mother -- peep show girls, burlesque dancers, mop boys, midgets, and ministers -- and peels back the stereotypes to meet the real people underneath these sordid professions.
The companion piece to his seminal book Tales of Times Square, this podcast unearths the original audio recordings of Friedman's interviews with the inhabitants of "the sleaziest block in town."
So grab a mop and a bucket, some ear muffs for the kids, and enjoy the ride back in Time(s).